Penn Valley man remains unresponsive from motorcycle accident

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A Penn Valley man remained in “very serious” and unresponsive condition Monday from injuries sustained in a weekend motorcycle collision in Grass Valley.

At approximately 4:25 p.m. Saturday, Gary Hanshaw, 59, was traveling eastbound on Highway 49 through the construction of Dorsey Drive Interchange, a $25 million project to add on- and off-ramps to the main thoroughfare, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Hanshaw was riding his 2003 Harley Davidson behind a few pickup trucks when they suddenly slammed on their brakes to avoid a sedan coming to a dead stop as it sustained major mechanical failure, said CHP officer Greg Tassone. The trucks came to a stop; however, Hanshaw failed to stop and collided into the rear of a 2007 Ford F-150 pickup, sustaining major head trauma, despite wearing a helmet.

“There were no (road) shoulders, and they all had to brake semi-quickly,” Tassone said. “He didn’t really have time to brake.”

CHP personnel responded to the scene along with fire department and medical personnel. Hanshaw was transported by Reach Helicopter to the Sutter Roseville Medical Center, where he remained Monday, Tassone said.

Drugs and alcohol are not suspected to be a contributing factor in the incident, and Hanshaw was not believed to have been speeding based on reports from witnesses, Tassone said. The eastbound lanes of the freeway were partially blocked by emergency equipment for approximately 45 minutes while emergency crews worked at the scene.